siliconcarbide

I was given a tank that was sold originally as a 55 gallon aquarium and yet when I measured the inside dimensions and calculated the actual volume it is 45 gallons. I think that the tank measures 48"X13.5"X21.5 on the outside. Is this really a 55 gallon tank? It certainly looks big to me.

turbomkt

Sounds like a 55g to me.
http://www.all-glass.com/products/aq...standard.shtml

hoppycalif

If those were inside dimensions it would be a 60 gallon tank. 48*13.5*21.5/231=60

Zapins

Those are outside dimensions, i have 2 tanks with the same measurements and they are sold as 55g.

siliconcarbide

Thanks for the feedback. I know that the tank's capacity is actually just a tiny bit under 45 gallons. I measured the inside and did the calculations. This is interesting. Doesn't it stand to reason that if a tank is sold as a 55 gallon tank it would hold that amount. Or is it the same mindset that allows a large cowboy hat to be described as a "10 gallon hat" when in fact only holds 1.56 gallons (just kidding; I haven't measured).

If the tank is sold as a 55 and in fact is actually a 45 does that mean that if a heater is rated to handle up to a 48 gallon tank the heater would be adequate? Or is the heater rated in the real world of volumetric measurement? I really don't understand how this overestimation of capacity got started. How should I figure out the size of the heater?


Thanks,

Alan